ARCHIVED MIRROR of the 101st Airborne Project PIKE Page

The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) and attached units distinguished themselves by extraordinary heroism in action against a hostile force in Dak To, Republic of Vietnam, during "OPERATION HAWTHORNE", 2 through 20 June 1966. "OPERATION HAWTHORNE" began on 2 June 1966 when the Brigade was directed to relieve the beleaguered mountain outpost of Tou Morong. The 1st Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry teamed up with elements of the 24th Tactical Zone Command (42d Army of the Republic of Vietnam Regiment and the 21st Ranger Battalion) to accomplish this phase of the operation. Intelligence reports received at Brigade Headquarters indicated a major enemy drive was under way to overrun the Central Highlands. At 0230 hours on the morning of 7 June 1966, and estimated North Vietnamese battalion of the 24th North Vietnamese Army Regiment savagely attacked an artillery position in the valley west of Tou Morong. The position was manned by Battery B, 2d Howitzer Battalion (Airborne), 320th Artillery; Company A, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry; and elements of Company A, 326th Engineer Battalion. The charging enemy was able to penetrate the artillery’s perimeter. The battle that had the winner-take-all climax saw the valiant Americans secure their weapons and fire point-blank into the still charging North Vietnamese Army ranks. As dawn brought light to the exhausted warriors, 86 enemy bodies were counted, 13 of them inside the artillery position. After relieving the Tou Morong outpost, the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry, moved north. Another bitter battle erupted, this time engaging all three of the infantry companies of the Battalion at one time, each in a separate fire fight. As the battle raged, the Battalion’s elite Tiger Force was hard hit and almost overrun by an estimated two companies of heavily armed, well trained North Vietnamese Army Regulars. On 7 June 1966, the 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry, was helilifted into a blocking position where it began a sweep south to link up with its heavily engaged sister Battalion. Throughout the battle, the enemy strength was fixed as a well trained North Vietnamese Army Regiment. Their heavy weapons were strategically placed in sturdy bunkers which were spread out along the fingers and draws of mountainside. As the battered but courageous 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry companies regrouped and the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry, continued their relentless attack from the south, a decision was made to have B-52 Bombers strike Dak Tan Kan Valley before the Brigade moved in for the final kill. "OPERATION HAWTHORNE" was one of the most viciously contested battles of the Vietnam War. Day and Night the battle raged, moving from bunker to trench line, to spider hole, to bamboo thicket, to stream bed, and finally to victory. At the conclusion of "OPERATION HAWTHORNE" the 24th North Vietnamese Army Regiment was rendered ineffective as a fighting unit, suffering 1200 casualties by body count and estimate. By comparison, friendly casualties were 48 dead and 239 wounded. A major North Vietnamese offensive to seize the North Central Highlands was blunted. Throughout "OPERATION HAWTHORNE" the extraordinary heroism, dogged determination, gallantry, and indomitable spirit with which the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, successfully accomplished all assigned missions were in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon all members of the Brigade who participated in this remarkable combat action.

During the period 10-21 May 1969 the foregoing assigned and attached units of the 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division distinguished themselves by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Dong Ap Bia Mountain, A Shau Valley, Republic of Vietnam. The 3d Brigade commenced Operation APACHE SNOW by striking at the enemy on his ground. For 4 days the enemy harassed the men of the Brigade with mortar rocket-propelled grenades, and small arms fire. Undaunted by this enemy action, the units of the 3d Brigade continued to uncover huge amounts of enemy stores and equipment and to destroy his forces. After pinpointing a stronghold on Dong Ap Bia Mountain, the Brigade launched a series of determined attacks during the ensuing 8 days to drive the well-trained-and-equipped enemy from his entrenched positions. Each day the enemy continued to infiltrate reinforcements to help repel the determined American and Vietnamese forces. After 8 days of intense combat, units of the Brigade broke through the enemy defenses and overran his bunker complexes. The battle continued for another 36 hours while the men of the Brigade searched for and destroyed all remaining pockets of enemy resistance. During the 12 days of battle the 3d Brigade and attached units eliminated more than 500 enemy troops; seized large quantities of weapons, explosives, and other military equipment; and captured tons of rice. The determination, devotion to duty, indomitable courage, and extraordinary heroism demonstrated by the members of the 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division and attached units are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on them and the United States Army.

While participating in military operations: The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division distinguished itself by extraordinary heroism from 17 January 1966 to 25 March 1966 while conducting Operations VAN BUREN and HARRISON against armed hostile forces in the vicinity of Tuy Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. After commencing Operation VAN BUREN on 17 January, the 1st Brigade deployed in the Tuy Hoa area to locate, fix, and destroy Viet Cong forces, while simultaneously protecting the local rice harvest from hostile seizure. The 1st Brigade not only defeated the insurgents decisively in four major battles, but also enabled the Vietnamese people to harvest a rice crop triple that of the previous year, when Viet Cong interference was unchecked. At Canh Tinh on 6 February, the 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry killed 64 Viet Cong and completely routed a numerically superior force from heavily fortified emplacements. On the following day the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry took a toll of 66 insurgents in a savage conflict. During Operation HARRISON, that began on 21 February, the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry continued maneuvers in the Tuy Hoa area by searching out and destroying 118 of the enemy in a 5-hour pitched battle in the rice paddies around My Phu. After three days of difficult marching through mountainous jungle, the 2d Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry discovered a Viet Cong regimental headquarters. The men fiercely broke the hostile defenses that were in a nearly impregnable cave complex and uncovered one of the largest caches captured in the counterinsurgency efforts. While suffering only light casualties in both operations, the 1st Brigade killed more than 500 Viet Cong, wounded hundreds more and captured nearly 500 insurgents and suspects. Not content with merely defeating the enemy, the men of this exceptional unit strengthened the safety and health of the local Vietnamese population by tireless efforts in medical treatment, road building and protection of the valuable rice crop. Their extensive military and civic accomplishments deeply depressed enemy morale and struck an irreparable blow to insurgency efforts in the vicinity of Tuy Hoa. The extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty displayed by the men of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect distinct credit upon themselves and the Armed Forces of the United States.

The 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) and its assigned and attached units distinguished themselves by extraordinary heroism while engaged in Operation KENTUCKY JUMPER east of the A Shau Valley, Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam during the period 17 April 1969 through 7 May 1969. Making repeated and daring assaults into the face of withering enemy fire, the officers and men of the brigade battled their way over mountainous terrain covered by triple canopy jungle into the heart of the largest enemy supply caches uncovered east of the A Shau Valley. With undaunted determination and exemplary personal fortitude, the men of the 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) valiantly routed a well-equipped, well-entrenched and determined enemy force. In addition to inflicting heavy casualties upon the foe, they uncovered over 80 tons of supplies which dealt a severe blow to the enemy effort. With the pride and dedication, the skytroopers materially advanced the Free World military effort in the Republic of Vietnam. The men of the 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) displayed extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty which are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect distinct credit upon themselves, their unit, and the Armed Forces of the United States.

The 101st Aviation Group (Combat) (Airmobile), 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) and its assigned units distinguished themselves through extraordinary heroism while engaged in military operations from 22 July 1970 to 23 July 1970 in Thua Thien province, Republic of Vietnam. Supporting the combat elements of the 2d Battalion (Airmobile), 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division the officers and men of the group were constantly exposed to heavy anti-aircraft and mortar fire from approximately 2500 well-armed and well-supplied enemy troops of the 803d and 6th North Vietnamese Army Regiments. Demonstrating aggressive determination and uncommon valor, the members of the 101st Aviation Group (Combat) (Airmobile), 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) dauntlessly conducted the tactical redeployment of personnel and equipment from besieged Fire Support Base Ripcord. As a result of their unfailing tenacity and heroism in the face of massive enemy bombardment, the lives of numerous Americans were saved. Through professionalism and gallantry, the pilots, crews, maintenance personnel, and support personnel of the group significantly enhanced the Free World military effort in the Republic of Vietnam. The extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty displayed by the members of the 101st Aviation Group (Combat) (Airmobile), 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect distinct credit upon themselves, their unit and the Armed Forces of the United States.
 

For exceptionally meritorious achievement in the performance of outstanding service: The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division assigned and attached units distinguished themselves in support of military operations in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 29 July 1965 to 1 October 1966. Selected to be the first CONUS-based unit to fight in Vietnam, the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division has fought brilliantly, establishing a pattern of resounding victories in every major Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army encounter and rendering ineffective several hostile battalions and one complete regiment. Superb in its adaptation to jungle counterinsurgency warfare, the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division developed and implemented a centralized base camp organization which enabled it with spectacular success to improve mobility, conserve supplies, and release many additional men for forward deployment. While carrying a prodigious combat load, the members of this unit selflessly contributed their personal time to more than 2000 civic action projects which included transporting and supplying over 12,000 refugees, providing medical care for over 37,000 Vietnamese in outlying areas, and improving the political, psychological , and economic conditions in every area in which they traveled. The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division’s exceptional standards of administration, maintenance, discipline and morale achieved these remarkable results without interrupting the vigorous search and destroy mission. The tenacity and dedicated devotion to duty displayed by the members of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon themselves and the Armed Forces of the United States.

The 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), and assigned and attached units distinguished themselves in support of military operations in the Republic of Vietnam from 14 March 1968 through 3 October 1968. The members of this unit demonstrated extraordinary diligence, initiative, and consummate skill in providing the Commander, United States Army, Vietnam, with a mobile quick-reaction strike force. Since the 3d Brigade was not organized as a separate brigade, it was necessary for the members of the unit to adapt themselves to operating without the support battalion and other assets organic to other independent brigades. At least nine major brigade-size moves were accomplished by this brigade, stretching to all corners of the Republic of Vietnam. During the entire period, the 3d Brigade was operating in two and often three locations simultaneously. The imaginative inception of a "quick reaction" capability and the deployment of troops on a minute’s notice hurt the enemy significantly. The remarkable proficiency and devotion displayed by members of the 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect distinct credit upon them and the Armed Forces of the United States.

The Division Support Command, 101st Airborne Division and its assigned units distinguished themselves in support of military operations in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 1 November 1968 through 31 May 1969. Demonstrating singular initiative, diligence and consummate skill, the officers and men of the command successfully provided aircraft repair parts, medical service, all classes of supply and air and ground maintenance support to the division. Despite overwhelming obstacles and unique combat requirements inherent in the fluid tactical situation, they exercised masterful command and control of division logistical operations and contributed significantly to the successes achieved in Operation NEVADA EAGLE, RAWLINS VALLEY, SHERMAN PEAK and MASSACHUSETTS STRIKER. In their effort to render the finest supply and maintenance support possible, the members of the Division Support Command, 101st Airborne Division judiciously utilized all available resources and capabilities in completing all assigned tasks. Realizing the importance of civic action programs to the ultimate success of the war effort, they unselfishly volunteered their time, materials and funds to the Nuoc Ngot Orphanage in Hue. With pride, determination and resourcefulness, unit personnel materially advanced the Free World struggle against communist aggression in the Republic of Vietnam. The remarkable proficiency and devotion to duty displayed by members of the Division Support Command, 101st Airborne Division are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect distinct credit upon themselves and the Armed Forces of the United States.